CHICAGO — Jeurys Familia escaped a bases-loaded jam with a game-ending double play after Rene Rivera drove in the tie-breaking run with two outs in the top of the ninth, lifting the New York Mets over the Chicago Cubs 2-1 Tuesday night.
Familia walked Addison Russell and Miguel Montero to start the ninth, then Javier Baez reached on a bunt single when third baseman Jose Reyes threw wide to first. Pinch-hitter Matt Szczur hit a grounder to first baseman James Loney, and Loney threw out Russell at the plate. Kris Bryant then hit into a double play to give Familia his 33rd save in 33 chances.
Rivera had the third single in the ninth – following hits by Loney and Asdrubal Cabrera – off Hector Rondon (1-2) as the Mets beat the Cubs for the fifth time in six games after sweeping them in last year’s NL Championship Series.
Hansel Robles (4-3) pitched two scoreless innings in relief for the win.
All-Star right-handers Jake Arrieta of the Cubs and Noah Syndergaard of the Mets returned to dominant form in no decisions.
Arrieta retired 14 of the first 15 Mets hitters. He allowed one run and struck out eight in seven innings.
Syndergaard gave up one unearned run on seven hits through 52/3 innings. He struck out eight before being replaced by Jerry Blevins after throwing 105 pitches.
MARLINS 2, PHILLIES 1: Christian Yelich homered and drove in the winning run with a single in the 10th inning to lead Miami to victory at Philadelphia.
J.T. Realmuto added two hits for the Marlins, who won their third straight to remain one game ahead of the New York Mets for the second wild-card spot in the National League.
DODGERS 8, NATIONALS 4: Chase Utley drove in three runs with three hits, including a leadoff homer that quickly spoiled the major league debut of Reynaldo Lopez and Los Angeles won at Washington.
Los Angeles swept three games from Washington at home in June and has won six straight in the series.
PIRATES 3, BREWERS 2: Josh Harrison tripled leading off the bottom of the ninth and scored when the throw from the outfield skipped past Milwaukee third baseman Hernan Perez and out of play to lift Pittsburgh at home.
Perez’s RBI single off Pittsburgh All-Star closer Mark Melancon with two outs in the ninth tied the game, but the tie was short-lived.
BRAVES 5, REDS 4: Atlanta’s bullpen blew a two-run lead in the ninth inning, but Ender Inciarte hit a sacrifice fly in the 11th and Atlanta prevailed at Cincinnati.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
YANKEES 7, ORIOLES 1: Starling Castro hit a two-run homer and drove in four runs, Nathan Eovaldi won for the first time since May and New York won at home to move back above .500.
INDIANS 7, ROYALS 3: Danny Salazar handled the Royals for the third time this season, the Indians roughed up host Kansas City’s starter-by-committee and Cleveland rolled.
TWINS 6, TIGERS 2: Tommy Milone held host Detroit scoreless until the ninth inning, and Minnesota broke through with five runs in the seventh.
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